Alice Annette Burling

1935 - 2020

AURORA - Alice Annette Burling, 85, of Aurora passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Aurora United Methodist Church. The Rev. Michelle Reed will officiate. Private family inurnment will take place at the Kenesaw Cemetery.
Current CDC guidelines will be followed. Face masks are required. The service will be livestreamed through the Aurora United Methodist Church Facebook page. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date.
Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be emailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.
Alice A. Burling (Ensz) was born on Dec. 1, 1935, in Dolton, S.D. She was the youngest of seven children born to John and Mamie Ensz. Alice graduated from high school in Dorchester in 1953. At the age of 17, she began working as a secretary for Ford Van Lines. She then decided to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where she met Donald Burling. The two married on Aug. 25, 1957, and were married for 63 years.
Don and Alice had four children together, Annette, William, Philip and Michael. The family moved to Aurora in 1975, where Alice was the director of the Alice M. Farr Library for nearly 20 years. She and Don retired in 1997 to spend more time with their children and grandchildren.
Alice was a brilliant seamstress, an avid reader and a wonderful cook. She loved mysteries, crossword puzzles, the Los Angeles Dodgers, big dogs and telling stories. She enjoyed spending time shopping with her grandkids, preparing for holiday gatherings and playing Yahtzee with the family. Alice had the ability to make every day a special occasion, and she made everyone feel welcome at her table. She was a mother and grandmother to all who knew her. Her optimism, tenacity and unconditional love will never be forgotten.
Alice will be missed dearly by her sons, Philip Burling of Kearney and Michael (Patty) Burling of Omaha; her seven grandchildren, Natalie (Kyle) Kuypers, Pascal (Chase) Johnson, Erin Burling, Braeden Burling, Brock Burling, Ellen Burling and Jenny Dye; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Annette Burling; her son, William Burling; and her husband, Donald Burling.